Steam-engine governor



(No Model.)

F. FOSDIGK. STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR.

Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

Wi kt E 5 5 E 5. W mifl mlawk UNITED STATES,

PATENT FREDERICK FOSDICK, OF FITCI-IBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

SPECIPZCATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,411, dated August 4, 1885.

Application tiled June 52, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LFREDERICK FosnIoK, of Fitchbu rg, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Stemn-Engine Governors, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanyiu g drawings,is a specification,like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is intended as an improvement on governors of that class shown in Letters Patent No. 221,296, granted to me November 4. 1879, in which actuating-weights, moving under the opposing action of centrifugal force and springs, produce a movement of a valveactuating eccentric across the main shaft, thereby varying its throw and consequently regulating the cut-off point of the engine-valve so as to reduce the power when the speed of the engine increases, and the reverse.

The prescntinvention consistsin novel means for supporting the eccentric, and guiding its movement with relation to the engine-shaft, and for counterbalancing the weight of the said eccentric and parts of the engine supported thereon, and for transmitting the movement from the centrifugal weights to the said eccentric, whereby the eccentricity or throw of the eccentric is diminished as the said weights move outward, and the reverse. The eccentric is pivotally connected at opposite sides with supporting-levers, themselves i'ulcrumed upon the wheel or case supporting the working parts of the governor, and having the proper arrangement to produce substantially parallel or rectilinear motion of the eccentric acrossthe shaft, thereby varying its throw and the point of-cut-ofi' of the valve, without, however, producing appreciable variation in the leadopening of the valve. The said leverarms are provided with counterbalancing weights for the eccentric and parts connected therewith, and, as all the movements are pivotal, the friction is reduced to a minimum and the governor is extremely sensitive, the eccentric responding to very small forces. The centrifugal weights are connected by links with the eccentric-supporting levers, the points of attachment of which links are located at opposite sides of the fulcra of the eccentric-supporting levers, so that both weights act in unison to produce movement of the eccentric in one direction.

The drawing shows in elevation a steam-engine governor embodying this invention.

The main shaft a,actuated by the engine in the usual manner, has fixed upon it and r0tating with it a wheel, I), constituting the sup porting frame-work for the working parts of the governor.

The valve-actuating eccentric c,made in two parts for convenience in applying it, has connected or made integral with it a hub or flange, (I, having an elongated opening around the main shaft a, and provided on opposite sides of the eccentric with lugs e e, pivotally con nected with the eccentric-supporting leversf f ,themsel ves pivoted or fulcrumed upon studs g, fixed upon the spokes of the wheel or frame I).

The pivotal points g g c e are nearly symmetrical with relation to the eccentric,so that when the levers are turned simultaneously the curvature of the arcs described by the pivotal points 6 6 will be in opposite directions, and the resultant movement of the center of the eccentric with relation to the center of the shaft will be nearly rectilinear, thus varying the throw of the eccentric and thereby producing changein the cut-off point of the valve Without, however, producing any material change in the lead-opening of the valve.

The supporting-levers f f are provided with counterbalancing weights h h, sufficient to balance the weight of the eccentric 0, together with the eccentric-strap and portion of the valve-rod or other parts supported by the said eccentric.

The centrifugal or governing weights '5 2' are pivoted on the Wheel or frame b at k k, and their centrifugal force is resisted by springs m m in the usual manner, so that the said weights will move out-ward under centrifugal force until balanced by the increasing force of the said springsand will be thereafter moved outward or inward, as the speed of rotation of the shaft increases or decreases.

In order that the power of the enginelmay be reduced when the speed begins to increase, or may be increased when the speed begins to diminish, so as to prevent any considerable variation in speed, the weights i 'i are connected by links a a with the eccentric-supporting levers f f, so that in the outward movement of the said weights i i the said levers are turned at their pivots in the direction to move the eccentric across the shaft so as to decrease its throw, and thus produce an earlier cut-off diminishing the amount of steam admitted to the engine-cylinder.

In order that both of the weights may operate together upon the eccentric, the link a is connected with the lever-arm f on the opposite side of its fulcrum g from the stud e, while the link n is connected with the leverf be tween the fulcrum g and the pivot c.

Thearms f f are provided with pivot-joints f at the other sides of their fulcra, to afford points of attachment for the links in case the engine is to be run in a reverse direction.

The springs m m are shown as connected with weights 2' i at their free ends, thus giving the springs the maximum effect upon the said weights and increasing the delicacy of operation, while the links nnare connected with the weights or weight-supporting arms between their heaviestportions and their fulcra 7c 70, so that the said weights act with strong leverage to move the eccentric, and the latter is thus rendered insensible to sudden shocks which might otherwise disturb it or change its position.

Stops r 9", which may be of rubber or yielding material,limit the movement of the weights h h, and through them the remaining parts of the governor.

I claim- 1 1. The movable eccentric and its pivoted supportinglevers, combined with counterbalancing weights connected with the said levers for the eccentric and parts of the engine supported thereon, and the actuating-centrifugal weights, substantially as described.

2. The movable eccentric and the counterto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK FOSDIOK.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM E. SHELDON, \VILLIAM J CLIFFORD. 

